Crasnick article on Pie

[Old Style]

I'd like to see the Cubs just let him go out there and play year in and year out and improve like he did in the minors.

Agreed. The only way he can adjust and learn from his mistakes is by playing. No other way around it.

Agree with both of you.

[craig]

Check out Pedroia's first 20 games. It wasn't very pretty....

 

Pedroia had a 1.000+ OPS last May, after 55 poor April AB, although even in April he still had an OBP over .300. And Pedroia was sitting almost half the games prior to his May breakout. So it's not like they stuck with him aas an every-day starter for as many AB's. His playing time seemed to already be on the bubble, but then he started to produce.

 

If pie can keep his OBP over .300 this April, and then OPS over 1.000 in May, I don't think he'll need to worry about his playing time at all.

 

Pie and Pedroia are hardly unique in starting poorly. But sooner or later you need to produce.

 

If Pie produces, nobody will worry about any of this. It's only if he's sub-.300 OBP for week after week, month after month, that it will become a problem. If that's true through April, fine, stick with it. If it still that way as June is rolling in, I absolutely do not expect that. But if it is, then we've got some problems and tough decisions.

[ReadytoPlayCF]

Maybe it's my longterm Cub experience, or just Lou's comment on Saturday ("...and we will probably be starting a young guy in center."), or the series of articles the last two days stating that a trade for a full-time CF is still a real possibility, but I will be somewhat surprised if Pie gets April, if he is on the team at all.

 

craig's list reminded me of the actions Hendry made to clear the spot for Pie and has given me some hope, but Lou seems nervous to give him a month; let alone two.

[dew1679666265]

Maybe it's my longterm Cub experience, or just Lou's comment on Saturday ("...and we will probably be starting a young guy in center."), or the series of articles the last two days stating that a trade for a full-time CF is still a real possibility, but I will be somewhat surprised if Pie gets April, if he is on the team at all.

 

craig's list reminded me of the actions Hendry made to clear the spot for Pie and has given me some hope, but Lou seems nervous to give him a month; let alone two.

 

If the rest of the offense is producing, I think Lou will have the patience to keep Pie in there.

 

But, if the offense struggles and he starts feeling like he needs offense from anywhere, all bets are off.

 

That said, if Pie produces worth anything I'd say the entire topic is a moot point.